Hyperyboella orphania Günther, 1938

Damien, Niko Kasalo, Laure, Damien Brouste, Christophe, Laure Desutter-Grandcolas, Domagoj, Christophe Hervé, Josip, Domagoj Bogić & Skejo, Josip, 2025, Atlas of New Caledonian Tetrigidae with preliminary suprageneric classification of Batrachideinae, Zoosystema 47 (18), pp. 327-397 : 331

Hyperyboella orphania Günther, 1938

( Figs 2-5)

Hyperyboella orphania Günther, 1938b: 467 (original description of the species); 1939: 224 (brief diagnosis of the species); 1972: 274 (taxonomic notes). — Blackith 1992: 97 (included in a catalog).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Syntypes. New Caledonia • 2 ♀, 1 ♂; NMW • 1 ♂; 1983; SMTD .

TYPE LOCALITY. — New Caledonia (without precision).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia • 1♂; Pic du Grand Kaori ; 22°16’58”S, 166°52’58”E; 250 m a.s.l.; 21.XI.2001 - 29.I.2002; Monteith leg.; flight intercept; QM • 1♂; Pic du Grand Kaori; 22°16’58”S, 166°52’58”E; 250 m a.s.l.; 22.XI-22.XII.2001; Burwell, Wright leg.; Malaise; QM • 1 ♂; Mt Dzumac ; 22°1’55”S, 166°28’1”E; 950 m a.s.l.; 5.XII.2003 - 26.I.2004; Monteith leg.; Malaise; QM • 2♀, 1 ♂; Col d’Amieu ; 21°36’25”S, 165°48’36”E; 400 m a.s.l.; 8-9.V.1984; Monteith, Cook leg.; QM • 1 ♀; Aoupini ; 21°11’20”S, 165°18’7”E; 750 m a.s.l.; 18-19.V.1984; Monteith, Cook leg.; QM • 2 ♀; Aoupinié ; 21°11’20”S, 165°18’7”E; 750 m a.s.l.; 2.V.2005; Monteith leg.; hand collecting; QM • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; TouhoTV tower; 20°47’23”S, 165°15’0”E; 30.I.2004; Monteith leg.; hand collecting; QM • 2 ♂; Mt Panié ; 20°34’12”S, 164°46’26”E; 950 m a.s.l.; 16.V.1984; Monteith, Cook leg.; QM • 1 ♂, 1 N; Mandjelia ; 20°23’59”S, 164°31’58”E; 750 m a.s.l.; 11-13.V.1984; Monteith, Cook leg.; QM • 2 ♂, 1 N; Mandjelia ; 20°23’59”S, 164°31’58”E; 750 m a.s.l.; 6-7.XI.2001; Burwell, Monteith leg.; hand collecting, pyrethrum – logs and trees; QM • 1 N; Mt Panié , Wewec; 20°35’41”S, 164°43’42”E; 410 m a.s.l.; 6-11.XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10868 • 1 N; Mt Panié , Wewec, camp; 20°35’55”S, 164°43’50”E; 360 m a.s.l.; 6-11. XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10875 • 1 ♀; Mt Panié , Dawenia, cascade; 20°32’24”S, 164°40’43”E; 620 m a.s.l.; 11-15.XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10876 • 1 N; Mt Panié , Dawenia, cascade; 20°32’24”S, 164°40’43”E; 620 m a.s.l.; 11-15.XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10878 • 2♂; Mt Panié , Wewec, descent; 20°35’30”S, 164°43’33”E; 450 m a.s.l.; 6-11.XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10877, MNHN-EO-CAELIF10879 • 2 ♂; Mt Panié , Dawenia, cascade; 20°32’24”S, 164°40’43”E; 620 m a.s.l.; 11-15.XI.2010; F. Legendre leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10880, MNHN-EO-CAELIF10881 .

DIAGNOSIS. — Moderately sized. Anterior margin of pronotum in form of spine, protruding a little past anterior level of eyes. Median carina close to pronotal surface; pronotum strongly bulging in middle. In lateral view, the anterior portion of median carina concave. Pronotal apex wide.

DISTRIBUTION. — Widely distributed in New Caledonia.

HABITAT. — Found at night in humid forests, generally on living trees with smooth bark, 1 m to 2 m high.

REMARK

Many specimens are reported here under H. orphania , but it is possible that there are multiple similar species. The type series consists of four specimens (two of each sex) with no precise collection localities. The males have a more dome-like pronotum, i.e., the middle part forms a distinct bulge. In females, this feature is much less perceptible and the caudal part of pronotum lowers more gradually. This seems to be the case of sexual dimorphism as we have observed the same in our specimens. The anterior margin of pronotum being distinctly concave seems to be a stable character and we use it to diagnose the species. There are, however, some populations in which the anterior margin of pronotum is only slightly concave, which we still consider H. orphania , but they may represent a completely separate species. Hyperyboella is an incredibly morphologically diverse genus with unclear distribution across all of New Caledonia. More material or molecular studies are needed to elucidate the phylogeny of this genus.